Sides

Hey, everyone. Go drink a nice, refreshing glass of water, and then thank your local moisture farmer.

Someone asked me the age-old question that journalists have been asked since the profession began: how can you remain unbiased, given all the events that happen around you?

The simple answer is that you can't.

Note: that line read that you can't. But your writing can. Every journalist has personal biases. Those biases make up who you are, and how you'll react to certain issues and events. They guide your writing and your feelings, both of which combine to make the end result. I can write about the same subject two different times, and let's say I saw a holodoc(umentary) on the subject, the second draft could be radically different from the first. You're always learning new things, and one must always write with this in mind. A journalist that isn't flexible is no journalist at all, or so says my first editor (and mentor). Now, that doesn't mean you shouldn't have some absolute truths that you adhere to...we all need a set of standards and guidelines. But don't be so rigid in your thinking that you lose your ability to objectively look at any given situation.

It's easier out here, where the long arm of the Empire doesn't always feel like reaching (watch, now I'll get ronto poo smeared all over my landspeeder for saying this). But I mean it's not as necessary to have a very strong opinion out here. Yes, it's important, and there are a lot of important issues out here, but it's not nearly as intense as it can be closer to Coruscant and the Core Worlds. Commenor is pretty peaceful, but even there we had our share of...difficulties.

On the other side of the coin, there's a really good motivation to stay neutral in everything: The Hutts. If you side with them once, then you're done. I've met several good journalists who lost their credibility because, under threat of death, they have been forced/threatened or otherwise coerced into representing Jabba's opinion instead of straight news. So far I haven't run afoul of anyone, but I'm sure that can't hold out forever. Then maybe I'll join the local police force as a desk clerk or something...

JJK